ERC Proof of Concept grant for Maria Antonietta Loi

Prof. Maria Antonietta Loi of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (University of Groningen) has been awarded a Proof of Concept Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). Loi will receive the grant for developing safe, highly sensitive and fast infrared detectors for use in advanced sensor technology. Loi is building on the foundations of previous research for which she received an ERC Advanced Grant.

The EUR 150,000 grant is intended to explore the potential of new technologies and take the next step towards innovation.

Important applications

The development of new, fast and highly sensitive short-wave infrared detectors enables important applications in areas such as self-driving cars, industrial automation and medical imaging. Examples include LiDAR systems that provide vehicles with an accurate 3D image of their surroundings, sensors that can detect through moisture and contaminants in factories, and non-invasive medical diagnostics using infrared light.

Professor Loi stated that the grant provides “a great opportunity to push quantum dots superlattice towards real-world utilisation.”

Affordable and producible

To make this possible, Loi is working on a new class of detectors based on quantum dots. This technology promises a combination of high performance, fast response times and eye-safe operation, while the sensors are affordable and can be produced on a large scale. The research thus responds to the growing need for powerful but practical sensor solutions.

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